Index.



H. G. BUCHAN.

INDEX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1913.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919-.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- H. G. BUCHAN.

INDEX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2|. 191s.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

SHEET 2.

2 SHEETS 5 Wco a Ma mks Lung HUG-H GELLROY BUCHAN', 0F WOODBRIDGE, NEW JERSEY.

INDEX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb. M, 1919.

Application filed February 21, 1913. Serial No. 749,767.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HUGH GELLROY BUCHAN, of Woodbridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indexes, of which the following is a specification.

In certain kinds of indexes, and especially in numerical indexes, in which the indicating letters or numerals, or combinations thereof, are large in number, and especially where they run far into hundreds or thousands, it is frequently extremely desirable that the required indicating number, etc., should be quickly and easily found; that the sheets, cards or leaves making up such index should be so secured together as to be in- .capable of being tampered with by unauthorized persons, and sometimes it is also extremely necessary and desirable that frequent changes should be made in theindex by the insertion of new sheets, cards or leaves at frequent intervals, either for the purpose of changing old entries therein or by insertion of new and additional sheets, cards or leaves. This is especially true of the loose leaf books used by telephone operators in exchanges in large cities for the purpose of looking up changes in the indicating telephone numbers of subscribers.

In such use, in the telephone exchanges, 11; is absolutely necessary that the index should be in the form of a bound book of small size, close to the operators hand, and in' its use it is essential that any required number among many thousands should be found almost instantaneously.

In the books at present and formerly in use greatdifiiculty has been heretofore experienced in the practical use of these in-' dexes, for the reason that in such bound books, (which of necessity must be of comparatively small size in order to facilitate their use), only about thirty or so cardinal indicating numbers are on constant view,

and beyond such first series of the first thirty or so numbers, the succeeding numbers of the thumb-index necessary to be used therein are normally hidden by the sheets of the first series of numbers. The object of my invention is to rovide an index com posed of a plurallty of cards, leaves or sheets, which may be secured together against any unauthorized removal, but all of which may have the indicating letters or numerals, or combinations thereof, at least those of the cardinal variety, of'the entire index proper, brought instantaneously into the view of the user by a simple movement of the hand, the manner of securing the leaves or sheets together being such that elision or multiplication of the separate sheets or leaves may be easily and quickly made by those authorized to make such changes.

My said invention is fully shown and described in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, wherein similar letters or numerals of reference designate like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved index book and binder, taken from the front and bottom, the front cover-leaf being thrown fully back into the open position so as to bring all the cardinal indicating characters on the thumb-tabs of the individual sections of such index simultaneously to view; and in order to more clearly show and bring out the details of construction of certaln portions of the device, the same are shown in section.

aa, and

Fig. 4 is a 'side- View in detail of one of the U shaped securing bars, the point at which the same appears in cross-section in Fig. 3 being indicated by the dotted line.

Fig. 5 is an end view in cross-section of the rear portion of my improved binder, of a slightly modified form of construction from the one shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, in the open position.

Fig. 6 is an end view of such modified construction shown in Fig. 5, in the closed position,

Fig. 7 is an endview in-cross-section,'and in the closed position, of the rear portion of another modified form of construction of my improved index binder from the two shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive; and

Fig. 8 is a front view partially in section of the binder-bar used in the form of binder shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings As shown in Figs. lto 4 inclusive, in the form especially adapted for use as such telephone exchange indexes, my invention consists in substances of a rigid metallic backplate 1, usually in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, of brass, white metal, steel nickelplated, or other suitable material. This back-plate 1 is usually and preferably of the contour and form shown in'Fig. 2, and has been subjected to a punching and swaging or pressing action of a suitable die, in such manner as to swage up therefrom, at the proper points, hinge-sections 2, usually four in number, between and at the end of which are perforations 6 struck out from such plate, into which fit the co-acting securing hinge-sections 3 and 3', (Fig. 4) of the double-walled securing-bars 4, shown in detail and side-view in Fig. 4, which are struck up into practically U shape form from any suitable thin sheet metal, usually steel; such sections 3 and 3 being swaged down so as to be much narrower than. the central hollow of the main portion of the securing-bars; and such securing-bars 4 are held 1n position in the back-plate l by suitable hinge-rods 5, passing through the hingesections 2 of the back-plate, and through the co-acting hinge-sections 3 and 3 of the securing-bars, as shown in Fig. 1.

The cover C of the bound-book to bev formed is usually of flexible leather or some such fabric, formed in one piece, and, in order to prevent turning up of same at the corners or at the front, where it is handled in quick usage, the pocket 6, usually formed by either turning over the edge, or sewing an additional strip on one side thereof, if formed thereon, or therein, within which is placed a stiffening strip of thin metal,

usually sheet brass or steel 7, or such strip may be otherwise held in position in any other desired manner. In Fig. 1, the interior fold of the fabric strip is slightly broken away in order to more clearly show the metallic stiffening strip 7 and its relative position.

As shown-in Fig. 1, in one of the many forms in which my invention may be embodied, a securing-strip of leather, canvas or other flexible fabric 10, which may be a single pieceextending across what is to be the back of the bindlng c, or instead of a single strip piece, this may consist of two strips 10, as shown in Fig. 5. In either case the strip or strips may 'be secured to the back C in any desired manner, usually b stitches, as shown at 42, adjacent to the e ges thereof. Oncethe securing-strips 10 or 10 are in position, the back-plate 1 is then superposed upon said strip or strips, and the edges of the securing strlp or strips, folded up, inward and over the longitudinal side edges of the back-plate; and substantially U- shaped securing-clips 11 are then slipped over both strip, fabric-fold and backplate, and firmly swagecl down thereon, so that such flexible securing-strip or strips will be firmly secured to the back-plate 1, and all to the binding back-cover C.

In some cases and for certain purposes, it may be desirable to render the back-plate 1 easily removable from the binder-back C. In such cases, instead of the arrangement just described, I prefer to use the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 5, wherein the back-plate 1 is provided at its longitudinal edges with the longitudinal grooves 41; and the securing-strip is as before stated divided into two side parts, and is secured in position by lines of stitches 42, or in any other desired manner. The securing-strips 10 are coiled as shown, and slipped into the central hollow of the substantially cylindrical securing-clip 11, formed of resilient spring metal, and the back-plate 1 is then slid up into the position shown in Fig. 5, so as to bind the loop, and free ends, of the securing-strips by the natural resiliency of the securing-strips 11'.

The form of clip per se, as shown, forms no part of the invention herein disclosed, save in combination, but is broadly shown, described and claimed in my United States Letters Patent No. 984,120, granted to me February 14, 1911, and as used herein is a modification of the use thereof, from that shown in such Letters Patent referred to.

Passing through perforations 13 in the walls .of the U shaped securing-bars 4, located a short distance from the ends of such bars, are hollow securing-studs 14, each provided with a slotted head 12 to receive a screw-driver, into the hollow female threaded cavity of which fits the like headed male screw 11.

Each'sheet, or small plurality of sheets, of the index is rovided with a thumb index tab 15 (Fig. 1 usually formed by an integral extension thereof, and covered to prevent wear on both sides, with a thin transparent sheet of celluloid, not shown. These thumb-indexes are arranged in the wellknown manner, to facilitate the opening of the book at the proper place, and are numbered or lettered consecutively in the manner appropriate to that particular form of index.

The particular embodiment of my invention shown and described, herein, is in the shape of a loose-leaf bound book carrying a numerical index of a thumb-tab form, each sheet being provided with one of such tabs, but I do not limit myself to such exact form. This particular form, while not limited thereto, is more especially designed and adapted for use in telephone exchanges; and by such use an operator can instantaneously find any subscriberspresent number up to an exceedingly large series of numbers.

The numbers shown on the thumb-tabs are each the cardinal nominative indicating numerals or characters of the ordinal numbers of any one'hundred subscribers within the particular one hundred desired; and in order to lessen by one-half the size of the book, each series of one hundred indicated by any particular thumb-tab carrying its cardinal nominative, begins not on the front surface of such tabbed'page, but on the back and opposing rear abutting surface of the immediately preceding sheet; and such one' hundred ends at the end of the indicating tab page with the last numeral of that particular hundred which is always 99. As an illustration, in a particular form of cardinal tab index shown in Fig. 1, the rear surface of the untabbed first page (not shown) carries the ordinal numerals 1 to 49; while the opposed abutting surface of the second page carrying the thumb-tab marked 1, carries the ordinals from 50 to 99; all of which ordinals are brought instantaneously to view upon thumbing the tab marked 1 and throwing the book open toward the left and rear so as to throw the untabbed first page back upon the front cover C.

The back surface of the sheet bearing the cardinal tab marked 1 begins with the ordinal numeral 100 (not shown) while the front opposing surface of thesheet carrying the cardinal tab marked 2 ends with the ordinal character or numeral 199 while the back surface of said sheet begins with the ordinal character or numeral 200; and in like manner the back of sheet 29 with 3000; back of sheet 59 with 6000; the back of 89 with 9000; and the page marked 119 ends with the ordinal character or numeral 11999; and the back surface of the first untabbed sheet of volume2 of the book index (if any such there be) will begin with the ordinal numeral 12000. Thus, the first volume of a multiple sectional book index .so constructed and of my improved form,

would in its 120 sheets contain and show 12000 ordinal numbers or characters, less one; while all succeeding volumes of a like number of sheets would contain just an even 12000 of such numbers; but the number of sheets to a section, and the number of sections to a book or hinder volume, may be widely varied without departing from the,

spirit or scope of my invention.

And in like manner, the form of index may be somewhat varied; for it is evident that by having the first sheet (in this case the untabbed front sheet) tabbed in blank or with a naught, the second sheet (now indicated by the cardinal tab 1, still being so marked) and an additional'untabbed front page being placed in position to carry the first half of the first one hundred ordinals,

that the same efiect would be brought about,

save that the back of the sheet marked 0 Would begin with the ordinal 100.

The first section of leaves A, having tabs so numbered from 1 to 29 are perforated and secured in the first binding bar 1, indicated by the numeral 4; in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of the securing-studs 11 and 12. The like secured second section of leaves A bearing the cardinal numerals from 30 to 59 and carrying the individual numbers from 3000 to 5999, are in like manner inserted and secured in the second securing bar 4.. And 'it is self-evident from the drawing and description that the securing-bars 1 are vibratorily secured in the back-piece by the1r hinged connections, such a distance apart that when the book is laid upon a table, and the backplate is rocked to the left of Fig. 1, to a horizontal or substantially horizontal position, each section of the index leaves carried by each securing-bar 4 to 4, will be drawn back to the left just sufiiciently far to uncover the index numbers of the like section lying immediately behind it, so that when in such position every cardinal index number upon all of the indicating tabs of the. entire index will be brought instantaneously to view; and it is also apparent that by a single motion of the hand the book may be thrown back into position, so as to bring the backplate into a perpendicular position, and the book into the closed form shown in 'Figs. 6 and 7 when only the cardinal indicating tabs carried by the first section A will be on view, when the cover alone is lifted.

It is evident that different combinations of numerals, and other characters than numerals, in certain desired cases, may be used in indexes of this character, with equal effect, as the particular series and combinations of cardinal and other indicating numbers shown; therefore, in my broad claims herein I have used the word character as covering any and all characters of every kind and nature that may be so used for indexing, or other like purposes.

It is evident that when it is desired to-insert or remove leaves in any inner section, 11%

carried by any particular securing-bar, this can easily and quickly be accomplished by merely unscrewing and removing the studs 14, thereof, taking out the old leaf or leaves, and inserting the new leaf or leaves, when such are necessary, and again screwing the studs in position.

It is evident from an inspection of the drawings, that in each of the three different forms of construction shown, the width from front to rear of each of the several indexes individual to each of four several sections shown when brought to view upon the rocking of the binder to the left and rear, will be substantially that of the distance between the pivots or rock points of the several section-holding-bars of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, and of the thickness of the separating bars 29, 29 and 29 of the structure shown in Fig. 7 being in each case that of the distance between the several sections at the point where they are secured at their rear edges to the back sheets of the binder; and such spacing apart of the sections at their rear and securing edges, the width of the several sectional indexes to be simultaneously exposed to view by the rocking of the book and its.

opening at the required point, is of the essence, fundamental and crux of my invention, herein disclosed and claimed.

While the form in which -I prefer to embody my invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, there are many modifications of my invention which may be made without departing from the scope thereof, and in Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown one modified form of construction of the device shown in said Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and in Figs. 7 and 8 another modification thereof. The device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 difiers only from that shown in the first mentioned Figs. 1 to 4:, in that the securing-bars are made of two pieces of fiat sheet metal, (the two together when in position forming the mechanical equivalent of the one piece U shaped securing-bars 4 to 4?) and this particular form of bar I have designated by the reference letter D, num-,

' being held together and the section of leaves E to be bound between them being held in position by the screw-studs indicated by the numerals, 11 and 12, of substantially the same form as those heretofore described, and shown in Fig. 2. In this particular construction, however, if desired, the hollow studs 14 may be soldered in position or otherwise rigidly secured to the pivoted plate 18; and when so constructed, upon the removal of the screw 12, which will release the secondary removable bar 18', the leaves may be easily and quickly removed and replaced.

In operation this modified form of device difi'ers in no particular from that hereinbefore described, as will be seen from a com- -parison of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 with Figs. 5

and 6.

In Fig. 7 is shown another modified form of construction embodying the broad principle of, and differing but slightly from,

other suitable metal, provided with the bottom L extension 21, having the upwardly extending screw-threaded stud-bolt 21' extending upwardly therefrom adjacent to either end thereof, u on each of which is screwed a hollow stan ard securing-stud or bolt.22, provided at the upper end with a female screw-thread adapted to receive a securingscrew 12, similar to the screws 12 of Figs. 1 'to 6 inclusive, and, like them provided with a slot to receive a suitable driver. The l. shaped backplate 20 and 21 is secured in any desired manner in the back of the flexible cover C, and is usually covered on the inside by a flexible covering of leather or other suitable fabric 24, sewed or otherwise secured to the back C of the covers O and as shown in Fig. 7. Adjacent to the back portion C at the rear of the flexible cover C of the binder, within the same, and usually covered by a suitable strip of leather or other suitable fabric 27 is a metallic stiffeningplate 28, which whenin position is opposite to the L extension 21 of the backlate 20.

The sections of leaves A to 3 when in position on the securing-studs 22, as shown in Fig. 7, are separated one from the other by bars 29, 29', and 29 which are usually in cross-section, of the rectangular form shown, which may be of wood or of hollow metal, as shown, or of any other suitable material, and their form may be widely modified without departing from the scope of my invention. These bars extend longitudinally at the back of the binder, and are provided with perforations to receive the standards 22, as shown.

Fig. 8 is a view in detail of the binderbar 30, consisting of a longitudinal flat bar 31 from which adjacent to the ends thereof depend the hollow securing-pins or sleeves 32, so spaced upon the binder-bar 31 as register with and pass down over the securing-studs 22, when in the binding position shown in Fig. 7.

In this form of the device,-in order to bind the various sections of the index into 115 book form, the bottom section A properly perforated, is slipped down over the studs 22 into the position shown in Fig. 7, the first and bottom dividing bar 29 also provided with like perforations, is slipped down 120 upon such securing-studs 22, the next section A of the leaves of the index, placed in like manner in position upon such securingstuds, the second dividing-bar 29' also slipped into position, and soon untilthebook is completed. When the last section A, (in this case, as shown in Fi 7, the fourth counting from the bottom) is placed in position, the binder-bar 31 is placed in position with the hollow securing sleeves 32 1 0 in registry with the securing-studs 22 and, pushed down into position over the same. The back of the binder is then bent over so that the bar 30 will be over the bar 31, and the securing-stud screws 12' are then from the outside of the binder passed through perforations provided therefor in such bar 31, and screwed fully home into the securingstuds 22, all as shown in Fig. 7, when all the sections will be firmly secured together in the form of a bound book, upon the back of which being rocked to the left of Fig. 7, all the index-tabs of the various sections will be brought instantaneously to view, as hereinbefore described in referring to the particularmodified constructions shown in the preceding Figs. 1 to 6.

It is evident that many modifications in the construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts of my said invention herein disclosed and described, other than those mentioned may be made without departing from the broad scope of my invention, and I do not intend to limit myself to the exact construction or constructions herein set forth.

While I have shown my invention herein as particularly applied to an index in the form of a bound-book, I do not intend to limit myself to such particular construction, as the broad principle and essence thereof may be applied with equal facility to card indexes,etc., without in any manner departing from the scope thereof.

I claim a 1. An index comprising a pluralityof sections of leaves; a thumb-index for each of such sections dividing the same into individual sections; a binder securing all the sections together in such manner that when the binder is in the normal position, only the thumb-index cardinal characters of the first section will be visible, but so constructed that when the binder is rocked wholly toward one side all the cardinal index characters of the several sections will be brought instantaneously into view; the several sec-- tions being spaced apart at the rear and securing edges, a distance substantiallythat of the width of the several indexes individual to each of the sections to be exposed to view upon such rocking movement.

' 2. An index comprising a plurality of sections, each composed of a plurality of leaves; a thumb-index for each of such sections dividing the same into individual sections; a

binder securing all the sections together in such manner that when the binder is in the normal and closed position, only the thumbindex characters of the first section will be visible, but so constructed that when the binder is rocked wholly toward one side all the cardinal index characters of the several sections will be brought instantaneously into view.

. sections will be brought instantaneously into view.

4. An index in the form of a bound-book, composed of a plurality of sections of leaves or sheets, each section comprising a plurality of leaves or sheets; each of such sections 'beingprovided with cardinal thumb-index indicating characters; and means for secur-, ing the leaves against displacement in such manner that upon the rocking wholly toward one side of all the sections the cardinal indicating thumb-index characters of the various sections will be brought instantaneously into view.

5. An index in the form of a removable loose-leaf bound-book, composed of a plurality of sections of leaves or sheets, each section being itself composed of a plurality of leaves or sheets; each of such sections being provided with cardinal thumb-index indicating characters; and means for securing the leaves or sheets against displacement in such manner that upon the rocking wholly toward one side of all the sections the cardinal indicating thumb-index numerals of all the index sections will'be brought instantaneously into view.

6. In a device of the class described,- a back-plate; a plurality of securing-bars, each secured to the back-plate by a rocking 1% or hinged connection; means carried by the securing-bars for removably securing therein a plurality of leaves, and a flexible cover having a stiffening-bar secured thereto at the front edge, secured to the back-plate.

7 In an index, a back-plate having a plurality of hinged journal-portions, alternating with perforations adapted to receive coactinghinge portions of vibrating members arranged in series longitudinal to such back- 11% plate; and a plurality of vibrating members in the form of securingbars, one for each line of the hinged journals, each adapted to receive a book section or signature composed of'a plurality of leaves, and having 12m inged-journals fitting into the perforations of the back-plate; and hinge-rods securing the vibrating members vibratorily to the back-plate.

8. In a device of'the class described, a 12% support; a plurality of spaced secur ngbars; each vibratorily.pivoted in the support, and each adapted to receive a plurality of leaves in the form of a section or signature of leaves, each of such sections being no plurality of spaced vibrating securing-bars,

each adapted to receive a section composed of a plurality of leaves, and having a thumbindex individual to such section.

11. In a device of the class described, a plurality of spaced vibrating securing-bars,

'each adapted to removably receive a section composed of a plurality of leaves, and having a thumb-index individual to such section.

12. In a device of the class described, a plurality of spaced vibrating securing-bars, each adapted to receive a section composed of a plurality of leaves, and having a thumbindex individual to each of such sections; and screws for securing the sections of leaves in their individual vibrating securing-bars.

13. In a device of the class described, a back-plate; a plurality of spaced securingbars, each adapted to have secured thereto a pluralitv of leaves, vibratorily supported longitudinally of the back-plate; each of which leaf sections carried by each securingbar is provided with an individual thumbindex.

14. In a device of the class described, a back-plate; a plurality of spaced securingbars, each adapted to have secured thereto a plurality of leaves, vibratorily supported ongitudinally of the back-plate; each of which leaf-sections carried by each securingbar is provided with an individual thumbindex, having one character to each leaf of such section.

15. In a device of the class described, a back-plate; a plurality of vibrating securing-bars arranged longitudinally of the back-plate spaced from one another and having a single pivot-point; a leaf-section can ried by each of such vibrating securing-bars; and a thumb-index individual thereto carried by each of such leafsections.

16. In a device of the class described; a

binder-portion having a back, a front and a rear cover; a plurality of sections of leaves; means for securing such sections of leaves within the binder-portion adjacent to" the back with spaces between each section of leaves; and a thumb-index upon the outer edge of each section of leaves individual thereto; the width of the indexes, and the width of the spaces between the sections, being such, that when the binder portion is rocked wholly to one side every character of all the indexes will be brought instantaneously to view.

17. An index composed of a plurality of sections, each made up of a plurality of leaves; a supporting back-piece; means for securing each of such sections to the backpiece, so as to leave a space between the several section's adjacent to said back-piece; a thumb-index for each section at the free edge thereof, composed of a thumb-tab for each leaf of the section, carrying a cardinal index character forming the nominative of the index ordinals set forth and beginning on the opposing abuttin rear side or surface of the immediately adjacent front preceding leaf, and on its front surface; the cardinal character of a-ll' the thumb-tabs of the several sections together forming a multiplethumb-index all of which indexes, save that carried bythe first and front section will be concealed fromview when the book formed of the several sections is closed; the construction and arrangement being such that upon rocking the book composed of the sections so as to incline the back-piece toward the rear, all of the several indexes individual to the several sections will be brought instantaneously to view; whereupon, on thumbing any required cardinal thumb-talb and throwing the book open thereat in the same direction; the two pages of ordinals of which such cardinal character is the nominative will also be brought instantaneously to view.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, city, county and State of New York, this ninth day of January, nineteen hundred and thirteen. I v

HUhH GELLROY BUCHAN. Witnesses: I

HENRY MELVJLLE CLARENCE Lam) lfiavrs. 

